Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Tuesday closed 46 points lower, although buying in metal stocks helped the index to recover from the low-point of the day. The selling was stronger in broader markets.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,982.9 points, ended at 19,934.64 points – down 46.67 points or 0.23 percent from its previous close at 19,981.31 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 5,976.55 points, down 0.26 percent.
Broader markets were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index closing 1.04 percent down and the BSE smallcap index ending 1.7 percent lower.
Energy and metal stocks rose while banking and realty scrips came under selling pressure.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Hindalco Industries, up 2.51 percent at Rs.226.85; NTPC, up 2.22 percent at Rs.191.25; Maruti Suzuki, up 1.61 percent at Rs.1,432.40; and ONGC, up 1.17 percent at Rs.1,337.70.
Major losers included ICICI Bank, down 3.5 percent at Rs.1,110.30; SBI, down 2.96 percent at Rs.2,865.40; DLF, down 2.95 percent at Rs.299.05; and Tata Motors, down 1.96 percent at Rs.1,331.90.
The market breadth was negative, with 881 stocks advancing, compared to 2,037 scrips on the decline, while 111 stocks remained unchanged.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $17.15 million Tuesday.
Other Asian markets ended mixed as uncertainty among traders grew after an overnight fall in US markets and reports of a rate hike by the Chinese cenral bank.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 0.82 percent higher at 23,428.15 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index shut shop 0.65 percent up at 2,875.86 points.
The Japanese Nikkei closed on a dull note, down 0.26 percent at 10,141.13 points.
European stocks rose on hopes that Ireland’s austerity budget will be passed by the parliament of that country.
Around mid-day, Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading 1.17 percent higher at 5,837.9 points, while the German DAX was 1.13 percent up at 7,033.27 points.
The French CAC 40 was 1.99 percent up at 3,823.71 points.
